Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for...

1. The rain that is falling on our parched earth.
2. The increase in my fitness levels.
3. The carry-on effect of a spiritual kick-up-the-pants that is PCon.
4. Getting to the ocean.
5. all the extra time I'm getting to spend with hubby.

Do you have to do spells to be a witch?

Do you have to do spells to be a witch?

This is a question I saw posed elsewhere and it got me thinking.  The assumption was that a central part of being a witch was casting spells, which seems to me to say that you are not a witch if you don't cast spells.  Now I have some serious issues with this idea, in fact I think it is completely wrong.  While I can certainly acknowledge that in the mind the correlation between witches and spell casting is popular I don't believe that you have to cast spells to be a witch.  Maybe the key lies in identifying if there is a different between magic and spells.

 One can perform simple acts of magic without having to be performing a spell in my opinion.  You can add magic to your cooking through the use of a few words and some herbs or by stirring the pot a certain way.  You can say a few words when searching for a car park, draw on the strength of the earth to fill you with strength when facing a troubling time, or hundreds of other instances where you choose to enact a little magic in your life, are these spells?  Some would perhaps say yes, in which case I guess you would have to say that spells are a part of everyday life for a witch.

For me personally I define spells as something more elaborate, something that you put time and effort into creating, enacting and following up, they have structure.  I can count on one hand the amount of times I've actively worked a spell.  When I've taken the time to create, prep and perform a working for a particular purpose.  What makes these spells different from simple acts of magic for me?  A spell seeks to make a significant change and therefore needs to be imbued with significant power.  When you first begin the process of deciding to do a spell you are starting the process of building power towards your desire.  The entire process is a building of magic and the spell is the focus for that magic, it is a ritualized act and therefore is something that should be used sparingly in my mind.

So for me the answer is simple - you do not have to do spells to be a witch, nor is your level of 'witchiness' dictated by the amount of spells that you do.  But I'm sure not everyone would agree with me and that's fine too :)

(source: http://www.yourwitch.com/)

Thoth

(Source: http://www.aquarianradio.com/2013/04/11/3235/)

Deity Name	Thoth, the Great Measurer
Pantheon	Egyptian
Native Origins	Egyptian, his primary temple was in Khmun (later known as Hermoplois Magna)
Correspondences	Day of the week	Wednesday is said to be the sacred day of Thoth.
	Flowers and Herbs	Drawing on the planetary association of Mercury it could include: fennel, mint and parsley.  If we were to include his moon aspect then perhaps the following would also be appropriate: hyssop, rosemary, moonflower, moonwort, garlic.  Almond and hops are also associations I have found.
	Fragrances and Incenses	As he was linked to the planet Mercury than cinquefoil, fennel or anise would be appropriate fragrances.  Musk is also said to be associated with the god Thoth.
	Crystals and Gemstones	I found one source that claimed opal was his gem stone, but as the Egyptians had no source of opals I could find reference to I find this hard to reconcile.  Flourite would be more appropriate if the connection was described as a rainbow like stone.  Purple was a color associated with him and it is possible that amethyst could be a stone of association as it did exist, although was very rare
	Foods	Given that Thoth is a god of Egypt it is plausible that foods from that locale and time would be appropriate such as beer (although it was nothing like our modern beer), dates, figs, legumes, bread, wine etc.
	Sabbats	You could call upon Thoth during any of the equinox sabbats as he is a god of balance and these are times of balance.  Thoth is also a god of wisdom and divination so you could call upon him during those Sabbats when divination is a key part such as Samhain and Beltane.
	Metals	Given his origins metals that could have been associated with Thoth would be gold, copper, silver or bronze.  Both gold and silver were associated with the gods and so these are most likely.
Aspects	Thoth is represented as a creator god as well as a Moon god.  He is believed to have been the inventor of language, scribe to gods and patron of scribes, invented astronomy, geometry and medicine, and maintained the balance of the universe as a mediator.
Favored Offerings	Traditionally the scribes in ancient Egypt used to offer daily libations of a drop of water before commencing work.  Given the importance of water in the life of ancient Egypt I could imagine this to be a respectful offering.
Myth & Legend	Thoth has been credited with the creation of the 365 day calendar.  It is said that Thoth gambled at dice with the moon (Iabet) and having won asked for 5 days as his prize.  These five days he gifted to the goddess Nut who had be separated from her lover/brother Geb and cursed with the inability to give birth on any day of the month within the Egyptian calendar.  The 5 days gifted by Thoth would allow Nut and Geb to procreate as those days belonged to no month.  During those 5 days Nut is said to have birthed Osiris, Horus the elder, Set, Isis and Nephthys.  The addition of these 5 days also set the Egyptian calendar into the 365 day cycle.  Many of the myths in which Thoth features contain a role of arbitration between the gods.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for...

1. Chocolate - sometimes it makes everything better
2. The rain we receives yesterday - it wasn't enough but its a start.
3. E-book loans from the library
4. The help and support of new friends
5. Reconnecting with old friends.

In honor of the rain

In honor of the rain that finally fell today...

The barren ground laps eagerly at the moisture falling softly from the sky.
Plants and trees breathe in deep and flex their roots as they are nourished from above.
And the wildlife ventures out to play and glory in the rains sensing they wont stay long.

Ishtar

Source: http://ancientpeoples.tumblr.com/post/26838754545/ishtar-is-the-assyrian-and-babylonian-goddess

Ishtar

Deity Name	Ishtar, Light of the World, Leaders of Hosts, Opener of Wombs, Righteous Judge, Lawgiver, Goddess of Goddesses, Bestower of Strength, Framer of All Decrees, Lady of Victory, Forgiver of Sins, Torch of Heaven and Earth.– Also known as: Ishara, Istar, Istaru, Aschtar, Aschtart, Geschtinanna, Nins-Anna.  She is the counterpart to the Sumerian goddess Inanna, and is also linked to Astarte, Arinna, Tanit and Anna
Native Origins	Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian – her holy city was Uruk, town of the Sacred Courtesans.  It is said that she originated as Inanna among the Summerians and was adopted by the Babylonians and Assyrians and became Ishtar.
Correspondences	Day of the week	Friday
	Flowers and Herbs	reeds – symbol of fertility, rose
	Fragrances and Incenses	Juniper
	Crystals and Gemstones	Sacred Stone is Lapis Lazuli
	Foods	Apple, wheat,
	Sabbats	While she is often linked with erotic passion and is mother and lady of light and therefore could be called upon at Midsummer and also with Ostara, her role as luminal goddess and one who journey’s to the underworld would perhaps see her best called upon at Samhain.
	Metals	copper
Aspects	Ishtar is a mother/fertility goddess, but she is also lover and warrior
Favored Offerings	Oil, Wine and things made with lapis, symbols of fertility and light
Detail at least one Myth & Legend about your chosen deity	The descent of Ishtar is perhaps the most popular myth regarding the goddess, although there is quite a bit of uncertainty regarding the various alterations that take place throughout the myth over time.  The key aspects of the myth that remain true throughout all versions are that Ishtar descends to the land of the dead which is ruled by her sister Ereskeigal.  In order to be allowed entry she was required to remove an item at each of the seven gates (crown, earrings, necklace, breast ornaments, girdle, anklets and bracelets, loincloth, until she stood naked and free of all accouterments as she passed through the final gates.  Ishtar was then held captive or killed and while she was so fertility was removed from the land.  The gods then demanded her return to the earth that it may be fertile again and Ereskeigal gave up Ishtar and allowed her to return to the world, regaining all her possessions as she passed through each gate.  The myth of Ishtar’s descent is very similar in many ways to the story of Persephone and Demeter as it tells of the variations in the seasons.  There is a further alteration of the myth that states that Ishtar as descending in search of her lover Tammuz and yet another that states that when she returned she found Tammuz ruling rather than mourning and so she sent him down in her place and therefore he was only her consort for ½ the year which gives the fertility of the seasons.  The key here is the link between the goddess Ishtar and fertility. Links have also been made between the 7 gates and the 7 chakras, that each item and gate is linked to a particular chakra.  What I find important is that Ishtar had to remove from herself all her worldly power and symbols and present herself naked and humble and in her trials within the land of the Dead she was reborn and able to emerge renewed into the world and into the power she possess.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for...

1. My immune system that allowed me to fight off the bugs going around at the moment.
2. That my hubby got a great internship with his work that will make him happy and increase his skills.
3. Getting to spend 2 days with my husband
4. Rediscovering yoga
5. My peacock colored scarf that just makes me smile from the colors.